On Saturday, at the Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia, the Nigerian-born Bahraini sprinter, Salwa Eid Naser crossed the finish line in second place behind Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino in the women’s 400m final.
Salwa Eid Naser had clocked 49.47 seconds. A strong performance that continued her resurgence in elite athletics.
But moments later, jubilation turned into heartbreak. Officials disqualified her for a lane infringement. A violation that wiped her result from the board and eliminated her from contention in the Grand Slam Track’s women’s long sprint title race.
What exactly happened?
Naser was assigned to lane 6 but mistakenly veered into lane 5. That was occupied by Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce during the early phase of the race. In the 400m, athletes are required to stay entirely within their lanes throughout the race. Violating this rule leads to automatic disqualification, no matter the performance.
It was a small mistake, but one with massive consequences.
The disqualification didn’t just strip Naser of a podium finish. It also robbed her of valuable points in the Grand Slam Track series. Had her result stood, she would have solidified second place in the overall standings, keeping her in strong contention for the series’ $100,000 prize.
Instead, her lane infringement meant her fifth appearance in the series would end with zero points. A golden opportunity — gone in seconds.
A comeback interrupted
2025 had seen the return of the former world champion in full force. Earlier in the season, Naser had stunned fans by running a world-leading 48.67 seconds in the 400m, despite being unsponsored and away from the limelight. She followed that up with a statement win in Doha during the Diamond League and consistent podium finishes in the Grand Slam Track circuit.
Her raw speed and composed racing had made her one of the biggest stories of the season .That was a proof that she was back among the best after years away from competition.
The incident in Philadelphia is a harsh reminder that track and field is a sport of fine margins. While power and pace dominate headlines, it’s precision that keeps athletes on the podium. For Naser, one step out of her lane was enough to erase what would have been her fourth top-three finish in five races.